Teenager breaks world record at Olympic swimming trials

Kaylee McKeon set a stunning world record at the Olympic swimming trials and has revealed the inspiration behind her success.

Kaylee McKeown won’t be able to fly under the radar for much longer after breaking the 100m backstroke world record at the Olympic swimming trials in Adelaide on Sunday night.

The 19-year-old qualified for the Tokyo Games in a sizzling time of 57.45 that puts her firmly in the conversation for a gold medal.

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McKeown flew out of the 50m turn well under world record pace and managed to hold on, slicing 0.12 seconds off the previous mark.

She went so fast she even surprised herself, admitting: “I just wanted to blow out the cobwebs”.

Making the achievement even more remarkable is the fact that she is still mourning the death of her father, who passed away from brain cancer 10 months ago today.

McKeown said she was inspired to make her dad proud.

“It’s been a huge year for me and my family,” she said, wiping back tears.

“I don’t mean to get emotional but it’s been 10 months since my dad passed today.

“So with that behind me and doing that time, I think he’d be really proud.”

You wouldn’t be able to believe it either.

McKeown broke the world record set in 2019 by American Regan Smith, who also holds the global mark in the 200m backstroke.

She will get the chance to respond when the US Olympic trials get underway on Monday (AEST).

Emily Seebohm touched in second place in 58.59, comfortably under the Olympic qualifying time — to also book her ticket to Tokyo.

The 29-year-old, who didn’t qualify for the team for the 2019 World Championships, will join Leisel Jones as the only two Australian swimmers to compete at four Olympic Games.

Titmus goes second fastest in history

Ariarne Titmus has swum the second fastest women’s 400m freestyle in history, firing a massive shot across the bow at American Katie Ledecky.

Ledecky is the world record holder, having set the mark at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, with Titmus now just 0.44s behind the all-time mark.

Her time of 3:56.90 was stunning with Grant Hackett saying that “we’d have a very nervous Katie Ledecky over in the United States right now after seeing a 3:56”.

Titmus’ time was 1.8 second faster than her PB.

Titmus was half a body length ahead of the world record for all but 25m of the race, with the final 50m just slightly getting away from her.

This is Titmus’ first Olympic team and the emotions got the best of her.

“This has been a long time coming, and I didn’t know what this would mean until it would happen...” Titmus said before bursting into tears.

Ariarne Titmus was overcome by emotion.

“I made my first team the team after Rio and it’s been five years on the team. I’ve done most things that being on the Australian team means but the one thing I hadn’t done was become an Olympian. I remember watching Steph Rice win three gold in Beijing and that was the year that I started training in a squad and to think that that’s going to happen and I’m going to be an Olympian, it’s really exciting.”

Tamsin Cook also qualified for the Olympic team, her second after finishing sixth in the final in Rio, with a time of 4:04.10.

Chalmers wins 200m in stacked field

It may have been a bit slower than expected but Kyle Chalmers has qualified for the 200m freestyle at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Chalmers came from behind after Alexander Graham led until the final 50m when Chalmers stormed home.

Kyle Chalmers reacts after winning the men's 200m freestyle final during day two of the Australian Olympic swimming trials in Adelaide on June 13, 2021. (Photo by Brenton Edwards / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

The 1:45.48 time was just 0.07 ahead of Elijah Winnington, who usurped Mack Horton’s place in the 400m.

Likely the top six will go through to the Olympics as Australia a strong chance at the 4x200m relay with the Thomas Neill, Alexander Graham, Zac Incerti and Horton set to make up the team for the heats to allow Chalmers and Winnington to focus on their individual events.

It opens the door for Horton to go to Tokyo a day after he finished third in the 400m, missing the opportunity at his pet event.

Larkin just makes 100m backstroke

Mitch Larkin has only just beat Isaac Cooper and the Olympic qualifying time in one of the closest races of the night so far.

Larkin touched the wall in 53.40, exactly the qualifying time, meaning 17-year-old rising star Cooper only just missed out with a time of 53.49.

However, Cooper could still become an Olympian assuming he gets drafted in to swim the heats of the medley relay.

In other results so far, Chelsea Hodges became only the third Australian woman to swim under 1:06 in the 100m breakstroke, along with Leisel Jones and Sarah Katsoulis, with Jessica Hansen also earning her ticket on the plane to Tokyo.